Page 1 of Tablet PC Query - advice please

Hi all

Not been about for a while sorry due to work commitments. Things are improving now though so should be about more and putting my pointless thoughts forward!

I am in the market for a cheap tablet PC. I don`t want an iPad for a number of reasons (mainly cost). Initially I didn`t see a space in my life that a tablet was needed but recently been thinking of getting an Amazon Kindle. From there then the thought process became "why not get a Kindle Fire then" which would offer me the Kindle with a web browser, ability to play films and have Apps available to me.
 
From there the debate has become an Amazon Kindle Fire HD or a Google Nexus 7. I can see a debate for either.

I have also now seen that the Blackberry Playbook has been reduced drastically and so entered into the arena of decision for me.

As a result my head has now exploded.

Essentially I want an eReader with the added benefits of a browser, video and some Apps. Some flexibility to not get left behind in the future updates stakes would be nice too.

Does anyone have anything they would like to advise on any of the above? It would be greatly appreciated!

Hasn`t the Blackberry Playbook been discontinued?  It might sound appealing, but you might run into problems with apps and stuff not being updated if nobody`s supporting the thing outside of hackers and tinkerers.

The Kindle Fire HD looks good - forty quid cheaper than the Nexus 7 for the same memory.  You might find yourself locked into having to get everything through Amazon, but for what you want that might be ideal.  Pre-orders at the moment - it actually comes out on Oct 25.

The Google Nexus 7 is a lovely piece of kit.  I picked one up myself.  £199 from ASDA.  It`s a faster processor than the Fire, but you might not need the extra grunt.  If you pick one up before Sunday (30/9) and get it registered with Google, you get £15 credit for paid apps and content.  You`re dealing with Google all the time, of course but if you`re into tinkering with kit, you can modify the N7 to accept USB sticks which gives you more scope for mischief.

J Mark Oates

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The speed at which web browser tech (HTML5 particularly) is moving atm, I wouldn`t buy any device which has been discontinued, or likely to have no updates in future.

You might be able to get a browser for Windows XP in a year for example, that supports the latest standards, but tablets are a different ballgame.


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For the price the Nexus 7 currently offers the best power/performance.







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Cheers guys, you`ve helped me remove the Blackberry Playbook from my enquiries anyway.

As far as the Nexus goes, how does it work as an eReader? Are you locked to buying books from the Google store thing (presumably like the Kindle pushes you in that direction although there are alternatives). Is there a Kindle App or similar for it?

The Kindle Fire does have a bigger hard drive I believe though.

Yeah, there`s a Kindle app for both.  You don`t NEED to buy your books from one or the other though.  eg you could buy a book from the Kindle store and read it in the Kindle app on the Nexus etc..  Or read `alternatives`.
While the Nexus is good as a reader it`s not really as good as a `proper` ereader because it`s actually lit up so can cause more eye strain (but at least it can be read in the dark..) and the battery lasts a matter of hours instead of hundreds and hundreds of hours.
I`d definitely get the Nexus.  Has it actually been revealed which heavily customised version of Android the newer Kindle runs?

Ste

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We will pay the price but we will not count the cost..

I`ve had a number of e-readers and tablets over the past few years (in search of an ideal machine), and so far I haven`t spent a penny on content, although I`ll admit most of it are bucket-list books (ones you should have read rather than you want to read).  There`s a lot of good reading in the Public Domain.

J Mark Oates

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On Her Back Is The Battle Of Wa-ter-loo
Beside it, The Wreck of the Hesperus too.
And proudly above waves the red, white, and blue.
You can learn a lot from Lydia!
Music by Harold Arlen and Lyrics by E.Y. Harburg

sprockethole.myreviewer.com

Blackberry playbook is great for browsing and has a couple of decent cameras and it takes HD video

It connects to the tv via a micro hdmi socket and the picy=ture is impressive

The speakers are good and it doubles as an internet radio as well as having il=player to watch stuff while in the bath

Great build quaity, very portable - unlike an ipad- and a bargain at just over a ton

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